Permanent-mold casting machine



Dec. 21, 1965 s. J. woons ETAL 3,224,049

PERMANENT-MOLD CASTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 8 2; p g 22 M & w m

I N VENTORL' Sfan/eyd Woods Edmund W Vl aaos Haw M Woods A TTORNE YS Dec. 21, 1965 5. J. WOODS ETAL 3,

PERMANENT-MOLD CASTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I NVENTORS Sfan/eyd Woods Edmund! Waaos Harry/M 14 0003 A TTORNE YS Dec. 21, 1965 5. J. WOODS ETAL 3,224,049

PERMANENT-MOLD CASTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS Sfan/eyd. Woods 092 000 H4 14 0004; BY fla/ryA l Woods W4, M%' AW A 'I'TORNEYS Dec. 21, 1965 s. J. WOODS ETAL 3,224,049

PERMANENT-MOLD CASTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 0\ Q31 INVENTORJ Sfan/eyd M49004? Edmond WWoao a BY H59? M [444045 A TTORNE YS United States Patent 3,224,049 PERMANENT-MOLD CASTING MACHINE Stanley J. Woods, Hinsdale, and Edmund W. Woods and Harry M. Woods, Chicago, IlL, assignors to Pentagon Pattern and Engineering Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 252,865 4 Claims. (Cl. 2290) This invention relates to molding apparatus for use in the foundry industry and more particularly to permanentmold casting machines utilizing reusable metal molds in lieu of sand molds.

One common method of producing metal castings employs a sand mold comprising green molding sand additives which are used to improve such properties as thermostability, surface finish and hot strength. The sand is packed around a pattern, which is surrounded by a container or flask of suitable size. The sand is generally rammed in place by molding machines, which produce the desired degree of packing by a squeezing action, a jolting action, a throwing or swinging act-ion or a combination of these actions. A gating system is usually included in the mold, preferably as an integral part of the pattern.

The mold is generally made in two halves, an upper half called the cope and a lower half called the drag. When the two halves of the mold are made and the pattern withdrawn, cores are inserted into the mold cavity to form holes or internal cavities in the casting. The two halves of the mold are then closed and clamped together to prevent the cope from floating when the casting is poured. Generally, tolerances of from & in. to in. may be attained in a sand casting, depending on the size of the casting and control policies.

Another method of producing metal castings has been developed using metal molds instead of sand molds. This method is commonly called permanent-mold casting, and generally achieves higher production rates, better surface finish and closer tolerances than is possible in sand casting. The metal molds used in permanent-mold casting are usually made of cast iron or steel, with the mold cavity and gating system machined to dimensions. Vents are included in a metal mold to allow the air in the mold to escape when the liquid metal is poured in. To prevent deterioration of the mold surfaces and seizure of the liquid metal against the mold walls, the surfaces of the cavity are normally coated with a refractory wash or a carbon soot.

Generally, a casting is formed partially in the cope and partially in the drag of a mold. The molten metal is poured into the mold cavity through a passageway or sprue which connects the mold cavity to an opening or pouring basin formed in the top of the cope. In the usual sand mold which comprises a horizontally split cope and drag, it is impossible to remove the casting from the mold by separating the cope from the drag since the sprue passageway of the cope is then filled with solid metal which is monolithically connected to the casting.

To remove the casting from the mold in a sand molding operation, the flask is removed from the outer portion of the sand mold after the metal has solidified and the sand surrounding the casting is broken away and removed from the casting. This is normally accomplished by a shaking operation. The sand from the mold is then screened and reconditioned and used for making another mold.

In permanent-mold casting, however, the metal mold is re-usable and can be, in fact, used for making hundreds of castings from a single mold. The mold must therefore be removed from the casting by separating the cope from the drag.

Because of the problems inherent in removing a casting from a mold having a horizontally split cope and drag, permanent-mold casting machines have heretofore utilized vertically split molds having the sprue formed at the two engaging faces of the mold. By using this configuration, the molten metal can be poured vertically downwardly into the mold cavity but the casting can be removed without destroying the mold by separating the two halves of the mold horizontally, the sprue portion remaining intact with the casting.

The two halves of vertically split molds of the type generally utilized in a permanent-molding machine are slidably supported on the machine by means of four cylindrical carrying member-s which extend horizontally substantially a-cross the length of the machine. A cylindrically shaped bore is formed in each of the four corners of both halves of the mold for receiving the carrying members. The mold halves can thereby be separated horizontally from each other by means of a sliding action on the carrying members. This arrangement has the disadvantage in that the substantially horizontal disposition of the machine requires considerable floor space. Also, in a separated position, the mold surfaces of a vertically split mold are difficult to service and inspect by the machine operator, especially because of the four horizontal carrying members which obstruct vision and easy movement between the two halves of the mold.

One of the major objects of the present invention is to provide a permanent-mold casting machine wherein the cope or upper platen of the mold is lifted vertically upwardly away from the drag or lower platen of the mold. The molten metal is poured into the top of the mold and vertical separation of the two halves of the mold is made possible through the use of complementarily shaped engaging faces of the upper and lower platens of the mold, a portion of which are horizontal and a portion of which are inclined upwardly from the horizontal. The sprue passageway of the mold is formed at the inclined portion of the engaging faces, and when the top portion or upper platen of the mold is raised vertically upwardly the solidified metal formed in the sprue passageway remains intact with the casting in the bottom portion or lower platen of the mold.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a permanent-mold casting machine which, when the upper and lower platens are in a separated position, is free of interconnecting carrying members which impede easy service and inspection of the mold surfaces.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a permanent-mold casting machine wherein the upper platen is raised vertically from the lower platen and then tilted to expose the mold surface of the upper platen in a substantially vertical position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a permanent-mold casting machine wherein the upper platen is raised vertically from the lower platen and then both platens are tilted to a substantially vertical position to expose the mold surfaces for easy inspection and service by a machine operator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a permanent type mold, the upper platen of which is raised vertically from the lower platen while providing for vertical pouring of the molten metal through the top surface of the mold.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a permanent-mold casting machine which requires minimum floor space, provides for vertical separation of the mold, provides for a clear, unobstructed view of the mold surfaces for inspecting and servicing when the mold is in an open or separated position, and is rugged in construction, simple in operation and designed to provide for high production rates.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects will become manifest to those versed in the art from the detailed description of the invention which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred embodiment of a permanent-mold casting machine incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

n the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of the permanent-mold masting machine of the present invention showing the mold in a closed position.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective View of the machine of FIG- URE 1 showing the mold in an open or separated position.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section of the machine with the mold in a closed position and with certain parts shown in elevation.

FIGURE 4 is similar to FIGURE 3 but shows the mold in an open or separated position.

FIGURE 5 is an elevational fragmentary view of the machine of the present invention with parts removed illustrating another embodiment of a carrier of the mold.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a mold core suitable for use with the machine of the present invention.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective View illustrating the embodiment of a casting formed by the machine of the present invention using the mold and mold core illustrated in FIGURES 16.

FIGURE 8 is a schematic system diagram for operation of the apparatus illustrated and described.

As shown on the drawings:

A permanent-mold casting machine embodying the principles of the present invention is shown generally at 10 in FIGURES l and 2 wherein is illustrated a vertically separating permanent mold 11 comprising an upper mold platen 12 and a lower mold platen 13. The mold 11 is mounted on a lower mold carrier as at 14 which is supported by a pair of vertical supports or end Walls 16, 16. In order to provide vertical separation of the upper mold platen 12 from the lower mold platen 13, a telescopically extensible pressurized fluid operated cylinder 17 is mounted at a top portion of the end walls 16, 16 and connected to the upper platen 12 of the mold 11 by means of an upper mold carrier 18.

After flowable casting material has been poured into the mold 11 while it is in a closed position as illustrated in FIGURES l and 3 and as hereinafter described, and the casting material has solidified or hardened, delivery of pressurized fluid from an external source (not shown) to the cylinder 17 will cause retraction of a cylinder arm 19 and, in conjunction with other members to be later discussed in detail, will cause the upper platen 12 to be raised vertically and then pivotally to assume a position as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The hardened casting will remain in the lower platen 13 as the upper platen 12 moves to its raised position, and the cast ing is thereafter removed. The mold surfaces of the upper and lower platens 12 and 13 can be easily and conveniently inspected and serviced by a machine operator when the upper platen 12 is in the open or raised position, and subsequent actuation of the cylinder 17 will return the upper platen 12 to its lower position as shown in FIGURE 1, putting the mold 11 in proper closed condition to receive another charge of flowable casting material.

The lower mold carrier 14, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES l and 2, comprises a flat, horizontal member extending the width of the machine 10 from outside faces 20, 20 of the end wall 16, 16. A bottom surface 21 of the lower carrier 14 rests upon and is securely afiixed to flat, horizontally extending bedsurfaces 22, 22 of the end walls 16, 16.

To provide proper and uniform spacing of the vertical end wall 16, 16 and to ensure sufficient strength and rigidity of the entire machine, a plurality of horizontally disposed spacer flanges at 23 are fixedly connected to front and rear surfaces 24 and 26 of the end walls 16, 16. Flanges 23 are vertically spaced at predetermined distances from the bottom surfaces 27, 27 of the end wall 16, 16, and are complemented at the front portion of the machine 10 from outside faces 20, 20 of the end wall posed spacer bar 28 extending between and fixedly connected to interfacing surfaces 29, 29 of the end wall 16, 16.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 3, the fluid operated cylinder 17 is mounted for pivotal movement on a cylindrically shaped mounting shaft 30 which is rigidly attached to the end walls 16, 16. At the lower extremity of the cylinder arm 19, a longitudinally axially extending journal member 31 is secured thereto by any suitable means, as for example, a threaded sleeve connection or the like (not shown). The journal member 31 is apertured to provide a cylindrically shaped bore as at 32 having its longitudinal axis arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder arm 19.

A pair of identically shaped carrier flanges 33, 33 are disposed respectively on either side of the journal member 31 and are particularly characterized as having coplanar, complementarily shaped bottom surfaces 34, 34 arranged in abutting relation to a top surface 36 of the upper mold carrier 12. Flanges 33, 33 are fixedly connected to the upper carrier 13, which is, in turn, fixedly connected to the upper platen 12 of the mold 11 by any suitable means, such as welding or the like (not shown). Also, flanges 33, 33 define cylindrically shaped bores 35, 35 arranged concentrically to and in registry with the bore 32 formed in the journal member 31. In order to provide simultaneous movement of the cylinder arm 19, the upper mold carrier 18 and the upper mold platen 12, a cylindrically shaped bar 37 is journalled for rotation in bores 32 and 35, 35 of the journal member 31 and carrier flanges 33, 33 respectively.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide vertical relative separation of the upper and lower mold platens 12 and 13 and also to position the platens for convenient inspection and service of the mold surfaces thereon after a molded casting has been ejected. In order to provide control of the vertical and pivotal movement of the upper platen 12, the upper mold carrier 18 is provided with a pair of lever arms or vertically extending guide supports 38, 38 fixedly connected to either end thereof and interposed between the inner faces 29, 29 of the end wall 16, 16. The guide supports 38, 38 form concentrically aligned apertures as at 39, 39. The apertures 39, 39 are arranged in registry with bores 32 and 35, 35 of the journal member 31 and carrier flanges 33, 33 respectively, to rotatably receive the guide bar 37. Extending through and outwardly beyond the guide supports 38, 38, the guide bar 37 is slidably received in correspondingly matched V-shaped grooves or slots indicated by reference numerals 40, 40 which are formed in registry with one another in the end wall 16, 16. Each V-shaped slot 40, 41) more specifically comprises a vertically extending lower guide leg 41 and an upper guide leg 42 extending at an oblique or angle to the lower guide leg 41. To maintain proper disposition of the guide bar 37 and to prevent axial movement thereof, an outwardly extending end cap 43 is firmly aflixed by suitable means, such as machine bolts, to the outside surface of each end wall 16 over each of the V-shaped slots 40.

Each of the guide supports 38 also forms therein a vertically extending guide groove or slot 44. Guide slots 44, 44 are arranged in horizontally offset relation to the V-shaped slots 40, 40 in the end wall 16, 16 and are further arranged in horizontal and vertical registry with each other relative to a plane drawn parallel to guide supports 38, 38. A stationary horizontal pivot bar 46 fixedly interconnects the inner faces 29, 29 of the end walls 16, 16, and is disposed perpendicularly thereto. Pivot bar 46 is slidably received in each of the guide slots 44, 44 formed in the guide supports 38, 38.

To explain the sequential movement of the casting machine of the present invention, assume that the mold 11 is in a closed position as illustrated in FIGURE 1, and that it has received a charge of fiowable casting material which has solidified in the mold. The casting thus formed is in condition to be removed from the mold. Pressurized fluid is admitted to the fluid operated cylinder 17 to effect retraction of the cylinder arm 19 therein. The guide bar 37, which extends through the bore 32 of the journal member 31 and is slidably received in the lower guide legs 41, 41 of the V-shaped slots 48, 40, rises vertically in response to vertical movement of the cylinder arm 12 until the guide bar 37 reaches the upper guide legs 42, 42 of the V-shaped slots 48, 40. During the period of travel that the guide bar 37 is moving vertically upwardly in the lower guide legs 42, 42, guide supports 38, 38 move vertically upwardly as guided by vertical movement of the guide bar 37 and relative vertical movement of the guide grooves 44, 44 and the pivot bar 46. When the guide bar 37 reaches and begins travel within the upper guide legs 42, 42 of the V-shaped slots 40, 40 it moves upwardly angularly relative to the pivot bar 46. Continued travel of the guide bar 37 to the upper extremity of the upper guide legs 42, 42 will move the guide supports upwardly pivotally, in conjunction with pivot bar 46, until the guide supports 38, 38 and the upper platen 12 assume a raised, pivoted position as illustrated in FIGURE 2. It will be understood that during the early stages of the upward travel of the platen 12, the movement thereof is exclusively vertical. Pivotal movement of the platen 12 does not begin until full vertical separation of the upper and lower platens 12 and 13 has been accomplished.

Referring to FIGURE 3, the lower mold platen 13 is particularly characterized as having a fiat bottom surface 47 and vertically upwardly extending front and rear surfaces 48 and 49 respectively. An upper surface of the lower platen 13 comprises an inter-facing land surface 50 which includes a substantially horizontally extending portion 51 and a portion 52 which extends upwardly at an oblique or an angle to the horizontal portion 51. Intermediate the front and rear surfaces 48 and 49, the interfacing land surface 56 forms a substantially rectangularly shaped mold cavity 53 in its horizontal portion 51 and a channel or sprue passageway 54 in its angularly extending portion 52. The sprue passageway 54 is formed in open communication with the mold cavity 53. In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG- URE 3, the lower mold cavity 53 is defined as having a bottom surface 56 and upwardly extending lower cavity walls as at 57. The walls 57 are arranged to form four sides of the lower mold cavity 53. As best illustrated in FIGURE 4, the inner surface 58 of the channel 54 is particularly characterized as having an arcuately shaped lower portion 59 which comprises a lower surface 60 of a gate cavity. The gate cavity is indicated at reference numeral 61 in FIGURE 4, and opens into the mold cavity 53. As will be more fully described, the gate cavity 61, in conjunction with an extension of the upper platen, comprises a gate system for feeding fiowable casting material from the sprue passageway 54 to the lower mold cavity 53.

The upper mold platen 12 comprises a land surface 62 which is shaped complementarily to and in tight abutting engagement with the interfacing land surface 50 of the lower platen 13. The upper platen land surface 62 comprises a substantially horizontally extending portion 63 and a portion 64 extending at an angle to the portion 63. The horizontally extending portion 63 of the land surface 62 defines an upper mold cavity, indicated generally at reference numeral 66, which opens into the lower mold cavity 53. Lower and upper mold cavities 53 and 64 are complementarily shaped, and together comprise a complete mold cavity 67.

A projection 68, best illustrated in FIGURE 4, extends outwardly from the land surface 62 of the platen 12, and projects downwardly into the gate cavity 61 formed in the lower platen 13 when the mold 11 is in a closed position. A bottom surface 69 of the projection 68 is disposed in parallel spaced relation to the bottom surface 68 of the gate cavity 61 when the upper platen 12 is in a closed position, to form therebteween a narrow passageway or gate system 70. Thus, the gate system 70 opens into the bottom portion of the lower mold cavity 53 for feeding fiowable casting material to the mold cavity 67 from the bottom thereof. Proper feeding of casting material to all portions of the mold cavity, as well as optimum cooling of the casting material and free escape of gases in the mold cavity are accomplished by means of bottom feeding of the mold cavity. Bottom feeding is essential in permanent-mold casting in order to ensure a generally high quality casting.

As best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the mold cavity 67 is characterized as including a pair of tubularly shaped extensions or ears 71 extending from opposite faces of the mold cavity 67. Each car 71 is defined by a semi-cylindrically shaped surface 72 and an end wall 73 formed in an upper or lower platen 12 or 13. A core, indicated by reference numeral 74, is housed within the mold cavity 67 and is bottomed on the lower surface 60 of the lower mold cavity 53. The core 74 is shaped complementarily to, but smaller than, the mold cavity 67 for providing a casting cavity 76 to receive casting material. As best illustrated in FIGURE 6, the core 74 has outwardly projecting cylindrically shaped bosses 76 and 77 extending respectively from opposite faces 78 and 79 thereof. Boses and 77 are received respectively in fluid tight engagement in the ears 71, 71 of the mold cavity 67.

In order to provide communication between the casting cavity 76 and a top surface 80 of the upper mold platen 12 for conveying excess casting material and gases from the casting cavity 76, a cylindrically shaped passageway or open riser 81 is formed in the upper platen 12 and extends from a top face 82 of a frusto-conically shaped portion 83 of the upper mold cavity 66 to the top surface 80 of the upper platen 12. A riser collar 84 is secured to the top surface 80 of the upper platen 12 and comprises a lower port 86 disposed in registry with the open riser 81 and a reduced diameter upper port 87 concentrically disposed relative to the lower port 86.

Referring to FIGURE 3, the sprue passageway 54 opens into an enlarged upper portion or pouring basin 88. Flowable casting material is poured into the sprue passageway 54 from the pouring basin 88, and in order to minimize splashing of the casting material as it is being poured into the pouring basin 88, a splash board 89 is fixedly connected to the upper platen 12 adjacent to the inner side of the pouring basin 88.

The combination of the mold cavity 67 and core 74, as illustrated in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES l-6, will produce a casting 90 as shown in FIGURE 7. As illustrated, the casting 90 has been machined to remove excess portions such as a frusto-conically shaped top portion, as formed in the casting cavity 76, and it will be understood that the configuration of the casting 90 as shown in FIGURE 7 is merely illustrative of one out of many shapes and sizes of castings which can be formed by the vertically separating permanentmold casting machine of the present invention.

After a casting has been formed within the mold 11 and the upper and the lower platens 12 and 13 have been vertically separated to assume a position as illustrated in FIGURE 2, the casting is in condition to be removed from the mold. In order to expedite removal of the casting from the mold, a casting ejector assembly, indicated generally by reference numeral 91, is fixedly connected to the lower mold carrier 14. As illustrated in FIGURE 3, the ejector assembly 91 comprises a telescopically extensible pressurized fluid operated ejector cylinder 92 secured by means of a cross brace 93 to vertically disposed wall surfaces 94, 94 which define a circularly shaped aperture 96 formed in the lower mold carrier 14. Extending upwardly from the ejector cylinder 91 is an extensible ejector cylinder arm 97 connected in fixed assembly to an ejector face plate 98. Extending upwardly from the face plate 98 at suitable locations thereon are a plurality of ejector pins, as at 99, which are slidably received in complementarily shaped bores, as at 100, formed within the lower platen 13 and arranged to open into the mold cavity 67 through the bottom surface 56 thereof in registry with the casting cavity 76. Thus, when the ejector cylinder 91 is actuated by pressurized fluid to extend its arm 97 upwardly, the ejector pins 99 will abut the bottom surface of a casting formed in the casting cavity 76 to urge the casting upwardly away from the bottom surface 56 of the lower mold cavity 53, to insure easy removal of the casting from the mold.

Referring to FIGURE 5, an alternate arrangement for mounting the lower mold carrier 14 is shown wherein, upon completion of a casting operation, the lower mold platen 13 is pivoted forwardly contemporaneously with the forward pivoting movement of the upper platen 12 in its raised or open position. By pivoting the lower platen 13 as well as the upper platen 12, the mold surfaces of both platens are clearly visible for inspection and service by a machine operator positioned at the front of the machine. In FIGURE 5, a horizontally disposed cylindrically shaped mounting bar 101 is journalled for rotation in the vertical supports or end wall 16, 16 adjacent the front surfaces 24 thereof and in spaced relation to the bottom surfaces 27 thereof. A pair of carrier pivoting flanges 102 are mounted in axially spaced relation on the mounting bar 101 for corotation therewith and are secured thereto by any suitable means, such as a keyway or a spline or the like. Flanges 102 comprise upper surfaces 103 which are connected in fixed assembly to the bottom surface 21 of the lower mold carrier 14. A lower mold carrier fluid operated cylinder 104 is journalled for rotation on a stationary shaft 106 which interconnects end walls 16, 16 and is positioned in spaced, parallel relation to the mounting bar 101. The lower cylinder 104 has a cylinder arm 107 slidably received therein and adapted to extend and retract in accordance with the actuation of the clyinder 104. A yoke flange 100 is connected in fixed assembly to the distal end of the cylinder arm 107 and is apertured as at 109 to rotatably receive a cylindrically shaped stub shaft 110 therein. Firmly aflixed to a rear portion 111 of the bottom surface 21 of the lower mold carrier 14 is a generally V-shaped rear flange 112 apertured as at 113, which aperture is in registry with the apertures 109 of the yoke flange 108 to slidably receive the stub shaft 110 therein. In the embodiment of the lower carrier mounting illustrated in FIGURE 5, when the mold is in a closed position to receive a charge of flowable casting material, the lower carrier 14 of the lower platen 13 are positioned as indicated in solid lines. After a casting has been formed in the mold, and the upper mold platen has been raised vertically relative to the lower mold platen and pivoted to assume a position as illustrated in FIGURE 2, the lower cylinder 104 is actuated to pivot the lower mold carrier 14 and the lower mold platen 13 to a position indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 5. Thereafter, the ejector cylinder 91 is actuated to eject the casting away from the mold surface of the lower mold platen 13. The casting is removed from the lower platen 13 by the machine operator, and the upper and lower platens 12 and 13 are then in position for inspection and service.

FIGURE 8 diagrammatically illustrates a system for the automatic control of the operation of the machine of the present invention.

As shown, an electric motor 114 drives a shaft 116 which carries cams 117, 118, 119 and 120 respectively arranged to actuate switches 121, 122, 123 and 124.

The motor 114 has terminals 126 and 127. Terminals 128 and 129 are arranged to be connected to a suitable source of electric power. Motor terminal 126 is connected directly to terminal 129, while terminal 127 is connected to terminal 128 through a push button switch 130, which is connected in parallel with the switch 121. When the push button switch 130 is depressed, the motor 114 is energized and the cam 117 then closes the switch 121 to maintain energization of the motor 114 until the shaft 116 is rotated through approximately whereupon switch 121 is opened to deenergize the motor 114 until the push button switch 130 is again depressed.

One terminal of each of the switches 121, 122, 123 and 124 is connected to the input terminal 128. The other terminals of switches 122, 123 and 124 are connected respectively to electro-mechanical actuators 131, 132 and 133, the other terminals of which are connected to the input terminal 129. Actuators 131, 132 and 133 are arranged to control valves 134, 136 and 137, which are connected between a pressurized fluid supply line 138 and cylinders 17, 104 and 91 respectively.

Cylinders 17, 104 and 91 as well as the control valves 1.34, 136 and 137 are dual acting. That is, when the electro-mechanical actuators are energized, their respective control valves are adapted to feed one side of the piston of the cylinder to which it is connected with pressurized fluid, thus urging the piston and its corresponding actuating arm in one direction. When the electromechanical actuators are deenergized, their respective control valves are adapted to feed the second side of the piston with pressurize-d fluid, thus urging the piston and its actuating arm in an opposite direction.

To describe the operation of the apparatus, it may be assumed that the permanent-mold casting machine is in a closed position as illustrated in FIGURE 1, and that a charge of flowable casting material has been poured into the mold cavity through the sprue passageway of the mold 11.

After the casting material has sufficiently solidified, the push button switch 130 is depressed to energize motor 114 and rotate the shaft 116, switch 117 then being closed to maintain energization of the motor 114 until the shaft 116 is rotated through one-half revolution. Switch 118 is thereafter closed to energize the actuator 131 which will correspondingly change the setting of the valve 134. Pressurized fluid is then supplied to one side of the piston in cylinder 17, which actuates the guide supports 38, 38 and causes the upper mold carrier 18 and the upper mold platen 12 to move vertically upwardly relative to the lower mold platen 13 and to then pivot to a position as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The next event in the cycle of operation is the closing of switch 119 to energize the actuator 132 which, through the control valve 136, will cause pressurized fluid to be supplied to one side of the piston in the cylinder 104. Pressurization of the cylinder 104 will cause pivotal rotation of the lower mold carrier 14 and the lower mold platen 13 to a position indicated in broken line in FIG- URE 5.

The next event in the cycle of operation is the closing of switch 120 which will energize actuator 133 and, through the valve 137, cause the ejector cylinder 91 to extend its cylinder arm 97 outwardly, and causing the ejector pins 99 to dislodge the casting from the mold surfaces of the lower mold platen 13. The cam 120 is arranged so that after a predetermined interval of time it will disconnect switch 124 which will deenergize the actuator 133 and cause the setting of the control valve 137 to change. This change in setting of valve 137 will cause pressurized fluid to be admitted to cylinder 91 whereby its cylinder arm will be urged in a direction opposite its first movement. The ejector pins 99 will then retract to a position illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The casting is removed from the lower platen 13, and both platens are then arranged for easy and convenient inspection and service of the mold surfaces.

The preceding events of operation take place as the shaft 116 rotates through 180. Thereafter, the cam 117 is arranged to open switch 121 to deenergize the motor 114. After the machine operator has inspected and serviced the mold surfaces, the casting machine is then ready for another molding operation. Push button switch 130 is again depressed to energize motor 114. As soon as cam 117' closes switch 121 the motor 114 will remain energized during 180 of rotation.

Next, cam 118 is arranged to deenergize switch 122 contemporaneously with the action of cam 119 deenergizing switch 123. Deenergization of actuators 132 and 133 changes the setting of control valves 136 and 137 which will cause pressurized fluid to be admitted to cylinders 104 and 91 whereby their actuating arms will be urged in a direction opposite their first movement. The upper and lower platens 12 and 13 will thereby be caused to return to their closed position as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

It will be understood that the push button switch 130 can be situated on the machine at a point convenient to the machine operator, and that certain safety devices can be installed in the electric and pressurized fluid circuitry to maintain a safe environment for the machine operator. Of course, if the lower mold carrier 14 is fixed in a stationary position as illustrated in FIGURE 1, the cam 119, the switch 123, the actuator 132, the control valve 136 and the cylinder 104 are omitted.

Accordingly, there has been provided a permanentmold casting machine adapted for vertical separation of the upper and lower mold platen comprising a mold having a sprue passageway formed at oblique interfacing land surfaces, the platens being adapted for pivotal movement to expedite visual observation of the mold surfaces therein as well as convenient servicing thereof.

Although I have herein set forth and described my invention with respect to certain specific principles and details thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the hereunto appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A permanent-mold casting machine comprising, in combination,

a mold support having a pair of spaced end walls,

an upper and lower mold carrier mounted on said support,

an upper and lower mold platen mounted respectively on said upper and lower carriers,

interfacing mating land surfaces on said platens to form a mold cavity and a sprue passageway,

an open riser formed in said upper mold platen,

a pair of spaced guide supports fixedly connected to said upper carrier,

said guide supports forming respectively a pair of guide support grooves in alignment with each other,

a fixed pivot bar means interconnecting the end walls,

said pivot bar passing through said guide support grooves to mount the guide supports slidably thereon,

said end walls providing respectively a pair of complementarily shaped and aligned slots comprising connected vertical and angular portions,

a guide bar fixedly connected to said guide supports,

said guide bar interconnecting and extending through said guide supports and being slidably received in said end wall slots,

means pivotally connected to said support and to said guide bar to move said guide bar along said slots,

whereby movement of said guide bar in said slots will move said upper platen contemporaneously vertically and pivotally.

2. A permanent-mold casting machine comprising, in combination,

a mold support having a pair of spaced end walls, an upper and lower mold carrier, an upper and lower mold platen mounted respectively on said upper and lower carriers, interfacing mating land surfaces on said platens to form a mold cavity and a sprue passageway, an open riser formed in said upper mold platen, a mounting bar fixedly connected to said support,

said lower mold carrier being pivotally mounted on said mounting bar, means pivotally connected to said support and to said lower mold carrier for pivoting said lower mold carrier on said mounting bar, a pair of spaced guide supports fixedly connected to said upper carrier,

said guide supports providing respectively a pair of guide slots, said guide support slots being aligned with each other, a fixed pivot bar means interconnecting the end walls, said pivot bar passing through said guide support slots to mount the guide supports slidably thereon, said end walls providing respectively a pair of complementarily shaped and aligned V-shaped slots, a guide bar fixedly connected to said guide supports, said guide bar interconnecting and extending through said guide supports and being slidably received in said V-shaped end wall slots, means pivotally connected to said support and to said guide bar to move said guide bar along said V-shaped slots, whereby movement of said guide bar in said V-shaped slots will move said upper platen contemporaneously vertically and pivotally.

3. A permanent-mold casting machine comprising, in combination,

a mold support having apair of spaced vertical end walls, an upper and lower mold carrier, an upper and lower mold platen mounted respectively on said upper and lower carriers in a horizontal plane, an open riser formed in said upper mold platen, interfacing mating surfaces on said platens to form a mold cavity and a sprue passageway,

said sprue passageway being disposed angularly upwardly relative to said horizontal plane, a mounting bar fixedly connected to said support,

said lower mold carrier being pivotally mounted on said mounting bar, means pivotally connected to said support and to said lower mold carrier for pivoting said lower mold carrier on said mounting bar, a pair of spaced vertical guide supports fixedly connected to said upper carrier,

said guide supports forming respectively a pair of identically shaped vertically extending guide grooves, said guide support grooves being aligned with each other, a fixed pivot bar means interconnecting the interfacing surfaces of the end walls,

said pivot bar passing through said guide support grooves to mount the guide support slidably thereon, said end walls forming respectively a pair of complementarily shaped and aligned slots, said slots being positioned to have a first lower vertically extending guide leg and a second upper guide leg extending upwardly at an angle to said first guide leg,

a guide bar fixedly interconnecting land extending through said guide supports and being slidably received in said end wall slots,

means pivotally connected to said support and to said guide bar to move said guide bar along said slots,

whereby movement of said guide bar in said slots will move said upper platen vertically relative to said lower platen during travel within the first guide leg and will pivot said upper platen during travel within the second guide leg.

4. A permanent-mold casting machine comprising, in

combination,

a support,

upper and lower mold carriers movably mounted on said support,

upper and lower mold platens mounted respectively on said upper and lower mold carriers and having interfacing mating surfaces,

a first portion of said interfacing surfaces being disposed in a horizontal plane to form a mold cavity and a second portion being disposed upwardly at an oblique angle to the horizontal plane to form a sprue passageway,

an open riser formed in said upper platen,

an ejector assembly for ejecting a casting from said lower mold platen including a face plate movably mounted on said lower carrier,

said assembly including ejector pins extending upwardly from said face plate and slidably received in said lower mold carrier for penetrating into said mold cavity, means for moving said ejector pins into and out of said mold cavity, means for moving said upper mold platen vertically relative to said lower platen and pivotally, means for moving said lower mold platen pivotally, and actuating means for actuating said means in a correlated predetermined sequence.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 401,804 4/1889 Washburn 22-113 451,578 5/1891 Richards 22-134 1,215,784 2/1917 Enley 22153 1,502,393 7/1924 Morris 22-136 1,580,689 4/1926 Shoemaker et al. 22153 1,715,421 6/1929 Morehead 22153 1,752,040 3/1930 Traut 22-113 2,639,952 5/1953 Whiteley 22136 2,728,963 1/1956 Rynerson et a1. 22193 2,787,815 4/1957 Granade et al. 22-57 3,063,106 11/1962 Peirce 2291 I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

MARCUS U. LYONS, MICHAEL V. BRINDISI,

Examiners. 

4. A PERMANENT-MOLD CASTING MACHING COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SUPPORT, UPPER AND LOWER MOLD CARRIERS MOVABLY MOUUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT, UPPER AND LOWER MOLD PLATENS MOUUNTED RESPECTIVELY ON SAID UUPPER AND LOWER MOLD CARRIERS AND HAVING INTERFACING MATING SURFACES, A FIRST PORTION OF SAID INTERFACING SURFACES BEING DISPOSED IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE TO FORM A MOLD CAVITY AND A SECOND PORTION BEING DISPOSED UPWARDLY AT AN OBLIQUE ANGLE TO THE HORIZONTAL PLANE TO FORM A SPRE PASSAGEWAY, AN OPEN RISER FORMED IN SAID UPPER PLATEN, AN EJECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR EJECTING A CASTING FROM SAID LOWER MOLD PLATEN INCLDING A FACE PLATE MOVABLY MONTED ON SAID LOWER CARRIER, SAID ASSEMBLY INCLUDING EJECTOR PINS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID FACE PLATE AND SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN SAID LOWER MOLD CARRIER FOR PENETRATING INTO SAID MOLD CAVITY, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID EJECTOR PINS INTO AND OUT OF SAID MOLD CAVITY, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID UPPER MOLD PLATEN VERTICALLY RELATIVE TO SAID LOWER PLATEN AND PIVOTALLY, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID LOWER MOLD PLATEN PIVOTALLY, AND ACTUATING MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID MEANS IN A CORRELATED PREDETERMINED SEQUENCE. 